Emirship tussle: Ribadu threatens to sue Kano deputy governor for ‘defamation’

Nuhu Ribadu, the national security adviser (NSA), is threatening to file a defamation suit against Aminu Gwarzo, deputy governor of Kano state.

Gwarzo had alleged that Ribadu facilitated the return of Aminu Bayero, the dethroned Emir of Kano, by providing him with two private jets.

After the reinstatement of Muhammad Sanusi II, Bayero returned to the emirate on Saturday, and moved into a palace in Nassarawa LGA of the state.

A retinue of soldiers who had been protecting Bayero before he was dethroned, rode with him from the airport to the palace.

Ribadu has since denied the allegation, and is now threatening to sue the deputy governor if he does not retract the claim.

In a letter to Gwarzo, Aliyu & Musa Chambers, counsel to Ribadu, demanded an apology from the deputy governor.

“The attention of our client was drawn to a video clip being shared on different social media platforms wherein you granted an interview at Emir’s Palace in Kano on Saturday, the 25th day of May 2024, in a very calm atmosphere, and without any provocation whatsoever, falsely accusing our client of using his office to kill the people of Kano State and maim their properties,” the letter as quoted by Daily Trust reads.

“In the clip, you were shown to be speaking in Hausa.

“Your false accusations against our client portraying his office as an appendage of a political party and a willing tool to cause chaos in Kano is false and done with the intention of damaging the hard-earned reputation of our client in the eyes of the right-thinking members of the society and indeed it has succeeded in doing so.

“In all the places he has served, our client has never been accused of any wrongdoing.

“Given this illustrious background, it is inconceivable that someone would harbour the thought that our client would descend his exalted office so low as to interfere in the local tussle of the Kano Emirate.

“The wide coverage you gave your interview has caused serious embarrassment to our client and his family.

“Since the publication, our client has been receiving barrage of telephone calls both within and outside Nigeria from friends and associates who felt disappointed in him because of the false allegation owing to the fact that it came from a person occupying the office of Deputy Governor of Kano State.

“Our client and his office take your allegations seriously and by this letter, our client is demanding that you provide irrefutable evidence to substantiate your claims. If you have no proof, our client demands you to within 24 hours:

“i. retract the libellous allegation in a similar manner you made it as well as give it wide media circulation; and…

“ii. issue a public apology in five National dailies with wide national coverage and on popular online platforms. Note that if you fail to do so, our client will be compelled to seek redress in a court of law.”

Sanusi was deposed in 2020 after falling out with Abdullahi Ganduje, the governor of Kano at the time.

On Thursday, the Kano house of assembly repealed the 2019 law used to oust Sanusi and balkanise the emirate into five jurisdictions.

The new emirate law stipulated the sack of all the Emirs in the jurisdictions and a restoration of the old order.

Abba Yusuf, Kano governor, had given the sacked monarchs 48 hours to vacate their palaces.

While the Emirs of Bichi, Rano, Karaye, and Gaya have complied with the directive, Bayero has not.

Bayero has called on the “authorities” to ensure justice.